Some Necessary Plugs

I'd like to take some time before the season really gets cranking to acknowledge some of the great baseball sites out there.

Royals Review--A great website that is updated multiple times daily with news about everything Royal. The message board is a great place to go to discuss the Boys in Blue with people who actually know what they are talking about, rather than the "WHY DON'T WE JUST SIGN BARRY BONDS?!!!" set.

Buster Olney's blog --Yes, I know this is premium content, but Olney hits about every high note for every team, scouring local newspapers like he was a midwestern housewife desperate to get on Jay Leno, but he finds relevant information, rather than sexually suggestive engagement announcements.

Rob Neyer's column--Along the same lines as Buster's blog, Rob's column is also ESPN Insider content (available to ESPN the magazine subscribers! Take advantage!). Rob's columns usually focus on young emerging players or alternative views of prominent players, and he's got some qualities that certainly strike a chord in my heart--he's a University of Kansas alum and a Royals fan. Sounds like a few people I know...

Deadspin--If you're not reading this daily by now, it's not too late to change your wicked ways.

And of course there are the usual suspects like Baseball Prospectus and Montgomery entrepeneur Sammy Stephens, but they get plenty of pub.

In other news, it looks like Alex Gordon will be breaking with the team, as former third basemen begin to make arrangements...